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//  Saturday, July 31, 2010

Central Division Week in Review

Sunday, October 18, 2009
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Chicago Blackhawks         5-2-1  (11 pts.)      1st in the Central                 2nd in the West

The week began with Chicago setting a franchise record and tying an NHL record by overcoming a 5 goal deficit against Calgary, eventually winning 6-5 in overtime.

Antti Niemi made his first start at the United Center on Wednesday and picking up the win.

Jonathan Toews scored his first goal of the season on Saturday, but the Hawks had their 4-game winning streak snapped by Dallas.

The non-existent goalie controversy in Chicago only gets worse now.  Huet was pulled on Monday, didn’t play Wednesday, made only 12 saves against an anemic Predators team on Thursday, and let in two dismal goals during a losing effort on Saturday.  Fans are becoming impatient with Huet, and they let him know during Saturday with a healthy shower of boo’s. 

With the historic comeback win, taking six out of a possible eight points this week, and the perpetual onslaught of shots on goal, this team is TRENDING UP.

 

Columbus Blue Jackets     5-1-0 (10 pts.)       2nd in the Central                 5th in the West

Columbus closed out the week by winning a third-straight game and is now off to a franchise best 5-1-0 start. 

The Blue Jackets penalty-kill leads the league with a remarkable 95.8 percent success rate.

After Saturday, Rick Nash now has at least in point in five-straight games and Samuel Pahllson notched his first goal as a Blue Jacket.

Everything is clicking in Columbus.  TRENDING UP.

 

Detroit Red Wings  3-3-1 (7 pts.)  3rd in the Central    11th in the West

This week opened and closed with lackluster hockey from the Red Wings.

Buffalo trounced the Wings 6-2 on Monday, earning their first home win against Detroit since 2002.  In the first period, Chris Osgood allowed four goals on seven shots and was subsequently pulled.

They rebounded nicely on Thursday, soundly beating a Kings team who came to Detroit having won four of their last five.  Nick Lidstrom earned his 1000th career point in the process, just further solidifying his place as one of the game’s all-time greats.

The week ended with a shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche, who have now won four straight.

Yesterday’s loss has to be even more frustrating for Detroit, as the Wings were unable to convert on a four-minute power play and gave up leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the third period.

Even more disheartening is that Pavel Datsyuk has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury.

Ugly hockey, poor play in net, and an inability to hold on to a lead.  Very un-Detroit.  TRENDING DOWN.

 

Nashville Predators  2-4-1 (5 pts.)   5th in the Central                 14th in the West

As of now, the Predators have lost five-straight.

Nashville’s power play has only converted once in 24 tries, an NHL-worst.

To top it off, both goalies are porous.  On Monday, Pekka Rinne was pulled after giving up four goals on nine shots.  On Wednesday, Dan Ellis was yanked after allowing three goals on three shots.  Just to reiterate, the Nashville goaltender was pulled in back-to-back games.

The offense continues to struggle as well, managing only four goals in four games this week.

News is also dire on the health front, with injuries to RW Jordin Tootoo (hip flexor), LW J.P. Dumont (concussion), and D Dan Hamuis (upper-body).

But there’s reason to hope for better days.  On Saturday, the Predators played well and Dan Ellis rebounded with 33 saves in a shootout loss to the Washington Capitals.

They can’t score, whether it be 5v5 or with the man-advantage and they can’t keep the puck out of the net.  Throw in a couple of costly injuries, and it’s easy to see why they’ve dropped five games in a row.  TRENDING DOWN.

 

St. Louis Blues  3-2-1 (7pts.)            3rd in the Central                 10th in the West

The Blues began play this week by falling in overtime to the Phoenix Coyotes, making it three-straight losses. 

The road trip continued in Anaheim and the Blues finally exploded offensively, dominating the Ducks in a 5-0 win.

During the three-game skid, their power play went 0-10.  On Saturday though, the Blues scored twice while on the man-advantage.

Ty Conklin, now 2-0 on the year, made 26 saves and earned his first shutout of the campaign Saturday.

There is one note of concern though, as center Alex Steen will now be out 6-8 weeks with a right wrist injury.

It appears as though whatever, if any, ill-effects were lingering from opening the season in Stockholm are finally gone.  With a favorable upcoming schedule (minus the Penguins), don’t be surprised if the Blues start stringing together wins.  TRENDING UP.

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